Image by Robert Gillam

One witness who filmed the scene on his smartphone said he narrowly avoided being part of the incident as he was walking to the bus stop to catch the number 70 to Killamarsh when he saw the collision from the pavement.

A man involved in the collision, Robert Gillam, 57, or Middlecroft Road, Staveley, said: "I'm so lucky to walk out of this with bumps and bruises.

"A number of passengers weren't so lucky and needed hospital attention. I saw a couple of people with cuts on their faces, and their faces were smashed up, it looked dreadful.

"The driver of the car in the collision was shunted from the drivers seat into the back seat.

"I can't praise the emergency services enough for their swift action, and for their kindness and concern for the injured."

His partner, Lyndsay Smith, 37, added: "I am just so thankful that Bob came home safe, albeit with minor injuries, looking at the pictures it could have been a very different story."

Derbyshire police added: "The driver of the Renault was airlifted to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham. He suffered serious injuries.

"The man driving the Astra went to hospital in Chesterfield with minor injuries and several bus passengers also suffered minor injuries.

"The road remains closed this evening while police continue to investigate the collision and recovery teams work to remove the bus and cars."

Brimington Road is now reopened.

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 519 of March 3.